Letters to the editor

As troubling as the economic news is for investors, its impact on charitable contributions to non-profits will be catastrophic ("Giving wilts at charities," Sept. 15).

Charities already are struggling in these challenging times, as demonstrated by the American Red Cross' recent request for $150 million in congressional funding for the victims of Hurricane Ike.

While congressional bailouts are the current quick fix, it's clear that non-profits, like for-profit companies, need to look for new ways to get necessary investments to help the unfortunate. They must tap younger and less-tested audiences with their stories, involve themselves more fervently in social media networking and rely less on traditional media to communicate their needs.

Electronic fundraising may be in its infancy, but charitable organizations should use it aggressively to attract new donors and get them involved in charitable causes.

The presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama has shown that new technology can motivate enormous younger audiences. Charitable organizations should adopt similar strategies if they are going to make it through this and future years' crises.

Joan BeaubairePrincipalKineo GroupChicago

EJ&E debate off track

I take exception to the Your View opinion piece by Ethan Bueno de Mesquita ("EJ&E debate ignores the benefits to city neighborhoods," Aug. 25) on Canadian National Railway's purchase of the Elgin Joliet & Eastern line. The issue is the involvement of the communities and their representatives. To cite Barrington and its median income and racial composition not only clouds the issue but creates a platform for Chicago and Austin residents to take a do-nothing stance and blame everything on racial or economic clout.

The suburban population and its representatives are encouraged to take an interest in the safety, economic impact and quality of life in the area they reside. Mr. Bueno de Mesquita, meanwhile, would rather use race and economic discrepancies as an excuse to take a do-nothing approach.

It is disheartening to think that a professor such as Mr. Bueno de Mesquita would have this narrow-minded reasoning and have the ability to influence the coming generation of thinkers.

Irv KarmBarrington

Latin deal illegal

Alderman Vi Daley (43rd) can't seem to get anything right about the Chicago Park District's previous agreement to build Latin School an artificial-turf soccer field in already-crowded Lincoln Park ("Throwing away a $2-mil. athletic field a bad play," Your View, Aug. 18).

That Latin agreement was illegal and unenforceable from the start. There was no legal obligation to reward Latin one cent of public money for trying to use the grassy meadow that has served generations of park-goers. It's folly for Park District Superintendent Tim Mitchell and the park commissioners, who turned a sweetheart land grab into an even sweeter public money giveaway.

Ms. Daley may have forgotten her duplicity in all this, but the voters will not.

Herbert L. CaplanChicago

Wake up, Nicor

Regarding "Customers fired up over Nicor bills" (Sept. 1), we had the same situation with my gas bill and my mother's. It did not make sense that the last bill for the winter season was three times more than the highest bill for the winter. Nicor needs to fix something. Thanks for your article.

Rosa BerardiForest Park

Women like golf, too

I've been enjoying Crain's "Golf Buddies" and golf tips and would like to particularly compliment you on including women golfers in the latest "Four Ball" segment (ChicagoBusiness.com, Aug. 29).

Many women love the game as much as men, and it was neat to see a coed foursome having a great time and great shots together. Keep it up!

While the Chicago area includes offices for the American Medical Assn. and the Illinois Hospital Assn., Ms. Madigan has shown no leadership or vision in bringing them all to the table to come up with a plan.

The attorney general historically has been incompetent in dealing with public corruption, and Ms. Madigan's approach to health care is a good example. If she first attacked the Cook County hospital system, I could be more understanding.

Ms. Madigan has shown no leadership or ability in health insurance reform. For example, every insurance company forces doctors and hospitals to use its forms and billing codes, while other states have mandatory arbitration of disputed bills, so health care workers get paid, patients are not involved in courts or misled by unscrupulous doctors or bad insurers. Medical billing is costing patients millions.

Scott MitznerDowners Grove

'Galling' opposition

As a resident of Central Illinois, I follow the debate surrounding Canadian National Railway's acquisition of the Elgin Joliet & Eastern line. Barrington's opposition to that plan is galling.

A Canadian National train | Bloomberg News photo

Pontiac, where I live, recently lost another 50 jobs at Interlake Rack Systems Manufacturing, and 500 jobs will disappear if our largest employer, the prison, closes as expected. Several businesses are boarded up and remain unsold. My hometown is fighting for its economic survival. Our unfortunate scenario is repeated in communities throughout America.

Barrington enjoys prosperity because businesses such as CN invest in the community. Without that commerce, their residents wouldn't have jobs commanding high salaries  it's a symbiotic relationship. No market would exist for "knowledge workers," creative classes, professionals or managers. Transportation is the bulwark that built Chicago's businesses.

Moreover, several railroads are abandoning trackage, with some being turned into bicycle trails. How economically productive is that?

A recent Crain's letter-writer groused that CN will transform upscale Long Grove into the Edens Expressway. In Pontiac, it's quiet and traffic-free these days. CN, forget these wealthy whiners. Come to Pontiac and be welcomed with open arms. We'll even throw a parade.

Lawrence NechelesPontiac

WRITE US: Crain's welcomes responses from readers. Letters should be as brief as possible and may be edited. Send letters to Crain's Chicago Business, 360 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60601, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Please include your complete name and the city from which you are writing, as well as a telephone number for fact-checking purposes.

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